Cian Kelleher IRL U20's low res

Ireland U20s Junior World Cup New Zealand 2014

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England Under-20s stand between Ireland and IRB Junior World Cup final Garry Ringrose has been the stand-out performer in number 13 jersey Gavin Cummiskey Sat, Jun 14, 2014, 01:00 The Ringrose clan, St Michael’s College and UCD can take the most satisfaction from this odyssey. That’s what any journey to the penultimate stages of a rugby tournament in New Zealand deserves to be called. It has been fraught with peril and still, somehow, Mike Ruddock’s Ireland team are in a World Cup semi-final against England. Considering tomorrow’s opponent beat them 33-9 at Franklin’s Gardens in February the coming power surge may prove overwhelming.

But it’s some feat to get this far without three off the best underage players in the country – Dan Leavy, Seán O’Brien and Peter Robb, while David Busby is another injury-enforced absence.

Leavy, then O’Brien were named captain. Adversity does strange things to young men and Jack O’Donoghue has proved an inspirational, albeit third choice, skipper.

Granted, they have yet to beat a major Southern Hemisphere opponent and did lose to France but they have reached this juncture by scoring tries. From the big picture perspective this crop looks set to yield some decent professionals. “Brian O’Brien, who used to be manager of the senior Irish side, used to say if you got three internationals out of an under-21 squad you are doing really well,” said Mark McDermott, coach of the 2004 side that reached the Junior world cup final. Injury permitting, Leavy should come again but the Leinster think tank already saw enough of Ross Molony to promote him right out of school.

Last year he led St Michael’s to the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final, losing to a Blackrock side inspired by Garry Ringrose, but his age didn’t stop Girvan Dempsey making full use of his growth spurt. In the recent British and Irish Cup final against a bunch of grizzled semi-pros from Leeds Carnegie, Ben Marshall was helped ashore after seven minutes.

Molony arrived and was the outstanding forward in Donnybrook that night. An English enforcer even tried roughing him up and while he didn’t retaliate you could see he will the next time.

Like Ringrose, he has put on noticeable muscle and there is more to come.

UCD have six players in the squad but St Michael’s arrival as a serious rugby nursery is reflected by the presence of Cian Kelleher, Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy and Molony.

Leavy also went there and Josh Murphy just missed the bench as Ruddock went with former Roscrea flanker Darragh Moloney. There are no stars in this team but Ringrose has really impressed in the 13 jersey. A Blackrock centre retires another one arrives.

Interestingly, of the 14 Leinster players in the match day squad only two are listed in the province’s academy. That’s one of those good problems enhanced by this success. And regardless of the result here, this has been a success.

They have a real chance of making the final but England crushed Italy (63-3), beat Australia (38-24) and survived Argentina (17-16). Their heavy artillery should prove decisive.

Irish Under 20s face Kiwis for third place Coach Mike Ruddock has made a number of changes for the bronze medal match Wed, Jun 18, 2014, 16:31 The Irish Under-20 side to face New Zealand Under-20’s in the 3rd place play-off of the IRB Junior World Championship has been named.

Head Coach Mike Ruddock has made a number changes to the side that lost out to England in the semifinal match. Jack O’Donoghue has been ruled out of the game as he continues to observe to the ‘return to play’ concussion protocols. Peadar Timmins will captain the side.

The back row sees Timmins joined by Rory Moloney, who is named at openside flanker with Frank Taggart moving to number 8. Dylan Donnellan and Oisin Heffernan both make their first start of the tournament partnering Peter Dooley in the front row with Darragh Moloney named in the second row alongside Ross Moloney. Harrison Brewer is named in the centre along with Garry Ringrose. TG4 will broadcast this game live on Friday morning (6.05am Irish Time) ahead of the IRB JWC Final Ireland defied the odds to reach the semi-finals of the Junior World Championship for the first time, having come through a daunting pool in which they lost their opening game.

Mike Ruddock’s side will take on defending champions England tomorrow at QBE Stadium, in Auckland at 6.05am (Irish time).England topped their pool undefeated and will be brimming with confidence, especially given that they beat Ireland 33-9 in the Six Nations

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earlier this year.Ireland are sweating over the fitness of their inside centre Dan Goggin.The Munster academy player has been outstanding throughout the competition and if Ireland were to lose another one of their first choice players, it would put a massive dent in their hopes of reaching the final.Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, Ruddock insisted that his side are not getting ahead of themselves. “We’re not getting carried away. It’s a really good achievement to reach the semi-finals, but we know there’s a lot of work to be done yet.”It’s been a real team effort all the way through. Jack O’Donoghue, I think, deserves a special mention as captain. He’s led from the front and has rallied his troops superbly,” said Ruddock. “Look, let’s see what happens. If we can make a final, then we might start talking about being a bit more of a special group.”If we can win the World Cup then definitely they can talk about being a special group. But at the moment it’s just another game and we’ve got to front up and continue to improve,” he added.Ruddock’s men will also be looking for revenge for their 33-9 defeat in the Six Nations in February this year.”England, the current World champions, are our next opponents and it doesn’t get any bigger than that. They will be confident after beating us in the Six Nations, but we have improved since then.

Nothing less than our ‘A’ game will do.”Regardless of what happens in Auckland tomorrow, Ireland are guaranteed their best ever finish at the Junior World Championship, but given the competitive nature of this current crop, they will be hoping to go one better.IRELAND IRELAND V ENGLAND,LIVE, TOMORROW, SKY SPORTS 2, 6.05AM Irish Independent Mike Ruddock rings the changes for Ireland U-20s third place play-off with All Blacks First published:Thu, Jun 19, 2014, 01:00 Mike Ruddock has made a number changes to his Ireland Under-20s side for tomorrow’s third place play-off at the IRB Junior World Championship.

Jack O’Donoghue has been ruled out of the game against host nation New Zealand as he continues to observe to the ‘return to play’ concussion protocols following a knock in the semi-final defeat to England.

Peadar Timmins will captain the side in his absence.

The backrow sees Timmins joined by Rory Moloney, who is named at openside flanker with Frank Taggart moving to number eight.

Dylan Donnellan and Oisin Heffernan both make their first starts of the tournament partnering Peter Dooley in the front row with Darragh Moloney named in the second row alongside Ross Molony. Harrison Brewer is named in the centre along with Garry Ringrose.

TG4 will broadcast this game live on Friday morning (6.05am Irish time) ahead of the final.

Meanwhile, Victor Matfield will become the most-capped South African player of all time when the giant lock leads the Springboks in the second Test against Wales in Nelspruit on Saturday.

When he takes to the pitch, the 37-year-old will beak the record of 2007 World Cup-winning skipper John Smit with his 112th appearance for the side as South Africa look to wrap up the two-Test series. And France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has recalled versatile back Hugo Bonneval and flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo to the starting side for the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney, as Les Bleus bid to avoid a series sweep.

Beaten 6-0 in Melbourne last Saturday, France have already lost the series 2-0, but have retained a strong side for the match at Sydney Football Stadium with the hope of ending a 24-year losing streak on Australian soil.

Ireland U-20 suffer second half blackwash at Eden Park Mike Ruddock’s side finish in fourth place overall in the agegrade World Championship Ireland’s Cian Kelleher had an outstanding game against New Zealand.

Fri, Jun 20, 2014, 10:05 New Zealand U-20 45 Ireland U-20 23: It was half a match too far for a battered and beleaguered Ireland team that once again demonstrated cameos of rich quality but succumbed to the physical wear and tear of a long tournament. This was Ireland’s highest ever finish and given the obstacles they overcame they deserve nothing but praise for their efforts.

This though was a brutal lesson.

New Zealand scored seven tries to two, a stark statistic that suggests a contest of a certain ilk in this Under-20 World Championship third and fourth place play-off game but it would be a misnomer. Ireland led 23-21 at the interval and if they somehow could have found a panacea to brittle defence, they might have gone mighty close against their hosts.

Ireland lost this game because of technically poor defence. The defensive line resembled

an S-bend more often than not and instead of going low and putting the New Zealand ball carrier, Ireland went too high against physically more powerful opponents. The price was exorbitant.

It should be noted that the Baby Blacks’ running lines and offloading were of a very high standard. They had the game’s best player in outhalf Richard Mo’unga, the catalyst for their best moments, ably supported by fullback Damian McKenzie and a superstar in the making, left wing Tevita Li. Ireland too were bolstered by some exceptional performances, notably fullback Cian Kelleher, who had a marvellous game, so too Frankie Taggart while Ireland’s centre pairing of Harrison Brewer and Garry Ringrose had moments of quality too.

Individually and collectively, the pack excelled in the set-piece and also in carrying ball into contact. They ran to a standstill, until there was nothing but lactic acid left in the muscles.

Ireland’s performance in those opening 40 minutes broached both ends of the spectrum, porously brittle in defence contrasting with some exquisite attacking patterns, the product of excellent footwork and intelligent support lines.

The defence though was a massive issue and while New Zealand’s ability to shift the ball in the tackle and run clever inside trail lines, Ireland’s first up defence was weak and directly responsible for all three tries during that period.

New Zealand outhalf Richard Mo’unga - he carried the ball in two hands and offered a constant running threat - made the initial incision, running 15 metres before offloading to the supporting Tevita Li to sprint under the Irish posts.

The second was equally disappointing from an Irish perspective. Ireland were pedestrian, right wing Ciaran Gaffney an exception, in chasing a Ross Byrne up and under. New Zealand fullback Damien McKenzie did brilliantly to catch and offload, despite being hit in the air by Gaffney. Li breezed past a couple of tacklers and this time it was the left wing that passed to Mo’unga for the try. Li’s second try was also down to ragged Irish defence, rank tackling and a clever inside pass from New Zealand scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond.

McKenzie converted all three. Yet for all Ireland’s shortcomings in defence, their work with the ball was of a very high standard, from their excellent rolling maul to a powerful scrum and the facility of several individuals to beat the first tackle; Kelleher shone like a beacon in this respect Ireland were correctly awarded a penalty try by French referee Alexandre Ruiz after the shunted the New Zealand eight back over their line from a scrum, while the second came from a Ringrose break, and the neat footballing skills and dexterity of outstanding tighthead prop Oisin Heffernan. Outhalf Ross Byrne kicked three penalties and two conversions; Ireland led 23-21 at the interval and on the balance of play in that first half it was no more than the visitors deserved. It’s been a gruelling tournament from a physical perspective and there would have been a concern about whether the Irish side could last the pace.

They couldn’t, despite the collective bravery and character displayed, supplemented by the periodic arrival of fresh legs. Ireland’s defence remained a fundamental issue and New Zealand exploited it with a further four tries from James Tucker, Lachlan Boshier, Drummond and the game’s outstanding performer Mo’unga.

The harsh glare of the scoreboard was tough on the Irish boys, the discrepancy in points’ terms a product of tired minds and limbs. Ireland went down to New Zealand minus half a dozen front-line players and lost their captain and pivotal performer Jack O’Donoghue to concussion. They should be proud of what they achieved but it make take a day or two for that to sink in.

England later defended their IRB Junior World Championship title with a thrilling 21-20 win over South Africa at Eden Park.

There was a consolation for South African captain Handre Pollard, after he was voted IRB Junior Player of the Year.

Scoring sequence 7 mins: Li try, McKenzie conversion, 7-0; 9: Byrne penalty, 7-3; 12: Byrne penalty, 7-6; 19: Mo’unga try, McKenzie conversion, 14-6; 23: Penalty try, Byrne conversion, 14-13; 26: Byrne penalty, 14-16; 28: Li try, McKenzie conversion, 21-16; 30: Heffernan try, Byrne conversion, 21-23. Half-time: 21-23. 48: Tucker try, 26-23; 67: Drummond try, McKenzie try, 33-23; 71: Mo’unga try, McKenzie conversion, 40-23; 79: Boshier try, 45-23.

Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)

Name CLUB Position Rory Burke Cork Constitution Prop Denis Coulson Carlow / Lansdowne Prop Peter Dooley Lansdowne Prop Oisin Heffernan Lansdowne Prop Craig Trenier Terenure College Prop Max Abbott Cork Constitution Hooker Jack Dinneen Galwegians Hooker Dylan Donnellan University College Dublin Hooker Stephen Gardiner Lansdowne Lock Darragh Moloney Cork Constitution Lock Ross Molony University College Dublin Lock Diarmaid Dee Young Munster Back Row Rory Moloney Buccaneers Back Row Josh Murphy University College Dublin Back Row Jack O’Donoghue UL Bohemians Back Row Frank Taggart Belfast Harlequins Back Row Peadar Timmins University College Dublin Back Row Ryan Foley Cork Constitution Scrumhalf Nick McCarthy University College Dublin Scrumhalf Ross Byrne University College Dublin Flyhalf Conor McKeon Lansdowne Flyhalf Harrison Brewer Terenure College Centre Dan Goggin Y oung Munster Centre Garry Ringrose University College Dublin Centre Ian Fitzpatrick Lansdowne Wing Cian Kelleher Lansdowne Wing Alex Wootton Garryowen Wing Billy Dardis University College Dublin Fullback Ciaran Gaffney Galwegians Fullback

Fixtures & Results Date Venue 02 Jun 17:35 France 19 - 13 Ireland QBE Stadium, Auckland 06 Jun 17:35 Wales 21 - 35 Ireland ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe 10 Jun 13:35 Ireland 38 - 0 Fiji QBE Stadium, Auckland 15 Jun 17:05 England 42 - 15 Ireland QBE Stadium, North Harbour 20 Jun 17:05 Ireland 23 - 45 New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland IRELAND Seeding for 2014 JWC: 8 Best finish: Fifth (2012) Worst finish: Ninth (2008, 2010) JWC match record: Played 30/Won 14/Lost 16 JWC points/tries scored: 707/73

Fixtures & Results Date Team A Result Team B Venue

02 Jun 17:35 France 19 - 13 Ireland QBE Stadium, Auckland 06 Jun 17:35 Wales 21 - 35 Ireland ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe 10 Jun 13:35 Ireland 38 - 0 Fiji QBE Stadium, Auckland 15 Jun 17:05 England 42 - 15 Ireland QBE Stadium, North Harbour 20 Jun 17:05 Ireland 23 - 45 New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland

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